What does the curriculum for the HR Assistant training program with HRSE certification (formerly Personnel Assistant) entail? What skills do HR assistants have?

Learning content

The part-time certificate programs for HR Assistants (formerly known as personnel assistants) prepare you for the wide range of administrative and support tasks in human resources. It’s not just about administrative tasks: You’ll also gain a broad understanding of the key relationships and processes in HR.

Many courses are also designed to prepare students for the external HRSE certification exam. Their curriculum is therefore tailored to the relevant exam requirements. Typical subject areas include:

• Fundamentals of Human Resource Management
  You'll gain an overview of the tasks and functions of HRM and learn about the key concepts in human resources. These include, for example:
  • Fundamentals and Functions of Human Resource Management
  • Human Resources and Corporate Policy
  • Mission Statement and Corporate Culture
  • Internal Communication and Collaboration
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Psychosocial Risks and Their Significance in the Workplace
  • Digitalization in HR
  • Fundamentals of Project Management
  • Collaboration with supervisors, colleagues, and other internal departments

• Personnel Administration and HR Processes
  An essential part of the training program is the professional handling of human resources administration. This includes, among other things:

  • Workforce Planning and the Basics of Recruitment
  • Recruitment and Application Process
  • Hiring and Onboarding
  • Employee Files and Master Data
  • Work Time Management
  • Employee Development and Training
  • Internal HR processes and administrative procedures
  • Residence and Work Permits in Switzerland
  • Resignation and Termination of Employment
  • In the process, you'll not only learn about individual administrative tasks, but also how they fit into a company's various HR processes.
• Wage administration and social insurance
  Salary and social insurance are also important components of HR work. These include, for example:
  • Fundamentals of Payroll Administration
  • Setup and Review of Payroll Statements
  • Compensation and Various Components of Pay
  • Social insurances
  • Key Relationships Between Wages, Insurance, and Human Resources Administration
• Fundamentals of labor law
  In labor law, you'll learn about the most important legal principles that apply to everyday work life. These include, among other things:
  • Rights and Responsibilities of Employers and Employees
  • Employment Contract
  • Working Hours and Rest Periods
  • Holidays and School Breaks
  • Termination of Employment
  • Termination and Notice Periods
  • Employment references
  • For HR assistants, the key is to correctly assess labor law issues in their day-to-day work and to consult the appropriate specialists in more complex cases.
• Communication and collaboration
  HR is a cross-functional role. That is why communication and collaboration play an important role.
  You will learn to communicate professionally with coworkers, supervisors, job applicants, and internal and external contacts. This includes, for example:
  • professional communication skills
  • written communication
  • Handling Confidential Information
  • service-oriented behavior
  • Collaboration within the HR team and with other departments
  • Professional handling of various concerns and situations
• HR Metrics and Project Management
  A basic understanding of HR metrics (HR KPIs) will help you make sense of trends in human resources and understand simple analyses. Depending on the course, these may include, for example, headcount, turnover, absenteeism, or other relevant metrics.
  The basics of project management can also be part of the training—for example, to support HR projects, process optimization, or the implementation of new digital solutions.
  Ideally, the course content is taught with a strong practical focus, so that you can immediately apply what you’ve learned to typical situations in everyday HR work.
  
  

Skills and competencies

HR assistants are distinguished by their broad foundational knowledge of human resources. They are familiar with the most important HR processes, understand the basics of labor law and social security law, and can handle administrative tasks reliably and independently.

Her typical areas of expertise include:

• Handle HR administration carefully and in a structured manner
• Understand HR processes and help implement them
• Support employees and managers with day-to-day HR questions
• Treat relevant information and personnel data as confidential
• Applying the fundamentals of labor law and social security law in everyday situations
• Communicate in a professional and service-oriented manner
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding processes
• Understanding Basic HR Metrics and Reports
• contribute to HR projects and process optimizations
• In cases involving more complex issues, recognize when to consult a specialist

As the point of contact for day-to-day HR questions, they are also in regular contact with employees. Discretion, strong communication skills, a service-oriented mindset, and careful handling of personal information are therefore essential requirements for this role.

The program therefore not only imparts knowledge about personnel administration but also provides a solid, practical understanding of the most important areas of modern HRM—from HR processes, labor law, wages, and social insurance to communication, health, HR metrics, and project work.

Providers of HR Assistant Training Programs